Pilgrims pour into Polish cities linked to John Paul II

Roman Catholics come for concerts and prayers on the eve of John Paul being declared a saint.

A woman places her newly purchased portrait of John Paul II into a carrier bag in the late pope's hometown of Wadowice on Saturday. Wadowice and nearby Krakow are among the key places linked to John Paul in Poland.

KRAKOW, POLAND—From distant Canada to small Polish towns, pilgrims were arriving Saturday in places linked to Pope John Paul II for concerts and prayers held on the eve of him being declared a saint.

Thousands were crowding into the narrow downtown streets of Krakow, where Karol Wojtyla served as priest and bishop for more than 30 years before being chosen pope and taking the name of John Paul II — a historic moment, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church coming from a country ruled by communists.

The crowd was gathering to watch a multimedia show that was to be screened on the wall of the Palace of Krakow Bishops, where Wojtyla resided in the 1960s and ’70s. The screenings were to recall his joking exchanges with thousands gathered in the street below, as he stood in an open window, now known as the “papal window.”

Giant screens were put up in Krakow, Wadowice and other cities for the crowd to watch live on Sunday the unprecedented Vatican ceremony in which Pope Francis, aided by retired pope Benedict XVI, will canonize two 20th century popes — John Paul and John XXIII — as saints.

“This is a great event for us Poles, because our countryman will be honoured before the entire world,” said Jadwiga Grzelak, who travelled five hours with a parish group from in central Poland for the observances.

Pilgrims were also arriving in John Paul’s southern hometown of Wadowice, now festively decorated in white-and-red national flags and in papal colours of yellow and white, and with the much-loved pontiff’s portraits in some windows.

Two stages have been put up in the square in front of the house where Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920, and in front of the neighbouring basilica, where he was baptized. Concerts were planned Sunday in thanks for the elevation of one of the greatest figures in Poland ever.

“I think sometimes Poland does not get that much recognition, so everything about Pope John Paul is important for this country,” said Sara Szpila of Vancouver.